Handmade Holiday Roundup

I'm still feeling a bit quiet today, as the crazy rush of projects and tasks that always starts up before spring overwhelms my house and the people in it... but here's some of what I've got goin' on.

These are both the Brother-In-Law Basket Weave hat on Ravelry. (I made them for women)

This is the Skye Rib Hat. And that's the cutest boy ever in the background...
I'm Mamainmaine on Ravelry for anyone who's over there... I don't think I have any ravelry friends yet... :(

Why again do I try to knit, and make everything handmade for gifts? Why would I do such a thing while I parent an infant, renovate my house, work on a degree, work on a fledgling internet business, and work on building up my service work...?

- I do it because I have so many things to do. Because knitting or crocheting or sewing forces you to slow down

- I do it because when I knit while my son sleeps in my lap, I'm able to enjoy this precious time because I know that soon he'll be too busy to snuggle close to mama for so long.

- I do it because half the paper used in the U.S. each year is used to wrap consumer products

- I do it because while the average american family believes the Holiday Season should be about more than just gifts, they still spend on average over $800 a year buying presents. America spends about $450 billion, and I believe that money could be used elsewhere.

- I do it because a couple years ago someone was trampled to death by shoppers trying to get the best deal possible on some stuff that they probably didn't need in the first place.

For all these slightly depressing reasons I knit a few minutes here and there, but also because I desperately want to create a house full of joy, gratitude and creativity for my son grow up in, and that includes what kind of energy we put towards the holidays.